Fatigue can have serious consequences for the safety and health of seafarers, operational safety and the marine environment.
The fatigue guidelines provide information on the causes and consequences of fatigue, and the risks it poses to the safety and health of seafarers, operational safety, security and protection of the marine environment. It will assist all stakeholders to better understand their roles and responsibilities in managing the risk of fatigue.
Fatigue can affect all areas of ship and shore-based operations. Just meeting the requirements of the hours of work and rest (under the STCW Convention) is not enough to manage the risk of fatigue.
These guidelines will help determine the other factors that can contribute to fatigue.
The guidelines are based on the International Maritime Organization Guidelines on Fatigue (MSC.1/Circ. 1598.) and are aimed at regulated Australian and foreign flagged vessels.
Read the fatigue guidelines [5].
To get the latest information on maritime incidents, trends in the industry and safety awareness tips, sign up to receive a copy of our safety awareness bulletin. Topics covered in previous editions include, mental health and well-being, fatigue and its management, risk assessment, and incident reporting.
Seafarer's welfare.org provide resources including a 24 hour helpline and videos:
Visit Seacare—the website of the Seafarer's Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority.
Seacare now have a mental health resource centre on their website.
The centre looks at how the nature of seafarers work can affect an individual’s wellbeing, such as isolation from family or community supports and other factors impacting mental health.
It also provides a great list of resources for seafarers seeking help for themselves or colleagues.
Visit the Seacare resource centre [11]
Mission to Seafarers want to know how satisfied you are with your life at sea. They are asking seafarers to complete 10 key questions that will help them monitor, and improve life at sea. The questions range from well-being, working conditions to contact with family and friends.
Read the seafarers happiness index, take the survey and read their COVID related Q1 report:
If you are interested, you can read the results from the last survey [15].
The seafarer welfare council has a map of welfare facilities [16] seafarers can access while in Australia.
Links
[1] https://www.amsa.gov.au/audiences/international-crew
[2] https://www.amsa.gov.au/vessels-operators/seafarer-safety#collapseArea294
[3] https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/health-and-safety/maritime-labour-convention-shore-complaint-form
[4] https://www.amsa.gov.au/about/regulations-and-standards/index-marine-notices
[5] https://www.amsa.gov.au/vessels-operators/seafarer-safety/fatigue-guidelines-managing-and-reducing-risk-fatigue-sea
[6] https://www.amsa.gov.au/node/1417
[7] https://www.amsa.gov.au/vessels-operators/seafarer-safety/safety-awareness-bulletins-index
[8] https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/maritime-mental-health-awareness-online-registration-129003022513
[9] https://www.seafarerswelfare.org/our-work/seafarerhelp
[10] https://www.seafarerswelfare.org/seafarer-health-information-programme/coronavirus-covid-19/managing-your-mental-health-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
[11] http://www.seacare.gov.au/OHS/mental_health_work_context_and_resources_centre
[12] https://www.happyatsea.org/
[13] https://www.happyatsea.org/about-us/
[14] https://www.happyatsea.org/news/article/q1-2020-ports-in-lockdown/
[15] https://www.happyatsea.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SHI-Q1-2020-Covid-19.pdf
[16] https://www.operations.amsa.gov.au/seafarers_welfare/index.asp